The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-07

terest in politics. but only concerned himself
actively when moral questions in which he was
interested were the points in controversy; as,
for instance, during the war, when he labored
earnestly in behalf of the Republican party and
classed active member. In 1884, for
DO reason that has been clearly defined. he va
ried his usual course of procedure and espoused
the cause of Mr.. Clevelcnd, and labored earnest
ly for his election.
In the summer of 1886 Mr. and Mrs Beecher
went to England for the first time since the war,
and were the recipients of many social attentions
Since their return the Plymouth pastor has re-
manned quietly at his home in Brooklyn. occu-
plying his leisure moments in writing an autobi-
ography. weekly letter for a newspaper syndi-
cate. and doing other literary work Recently
he renewed his labors upon the Life of Christ"
work begun some years ago and laid aside, and
it is probable that the unusual indoor confne-
ment growing out of this fastened the attack of
apoplexy that has laid him low
During the last few weeks, in addition to other
literary labors Mr.. Beecher has been furnishing
weekly letter to the Sunday press His last
one, dated Feb. %, was on the training of chill
dren. 1t was an earnest, practical talk with
parents relative to the dangers and temptations
that beset the young, particularly in cities. It
was full of serious and instructive matter In
this letter Mr.. Beecher said:
81 thank God for two things-yes for thou
sand; but for two among many: First, that was
born and bred in the country of parents that
gave sound constitution and a noble
ample. / never pay back what got from
my parents If | were to raise monument of
gold higher than heaven it would be no express
sion of the debt Of gratitude which l owe to
them, for that which they increasingly gave, by
the heritage of their body and the heritage of
their souls, to me- And next to that l am
thankful that l was brought I'D in circum-
stances where I never became acquainted with
x-sntyaG u f1u
l hear a man say A, I know the whole alphabet
of that mans life, by which can imagine all the
| rest. If see a single limb, have the physiolo-
gists talent by which l know the whole struct-
ure. But never became acquainted with wick
edness when ] was young by coming in contact
with it. l never was suled in act in
thought nor in feeling. when I was young.
grew I'D as pure as woman And cannot ex-
press to God the thanks which l owe to my
mother and to my father and to the great house
hold of sisters and brothers among whom
lived
James Parton, writing about Mr.. Beecher
few years ago, said "One remarkable thing
about his preaching is that ne has not like so
many men of liberal tendencies, fallen into
milk and -waterism. He often gives a foretaste
OF the terrific power which preachers will WELD
when they draw inspiration from science and
life. Without ever frightening people with hor-
rid pictures of the future, he has sense of the
perils which beset human life here, upon this
bank and shoal of time It cannot be
said of his preaching that he breaches Christi
| anity with the bones taken out He does not
give twenty minutes of tepid exhortation.' nor
| amuse his hearers with elegant and melodiOus
essays upon human virtue = Philosophers
and purists may cavil at parts of these sermons
and, of course, they not perfect: but who can
deny that their general effect is civilizing. hu-
manizing, elevating and regeneratng: and that
this master of preaching is true brother of all
those high and bright spirits, on both sides of
the ocean, who are striving to make the soul of
this age fit to inherit and noby impel its new
BODY"